Oregon hopes overachieving Ducks are just getting started

View full sizeLouisville's Russ Smith (2) is congratulated by Oregon's Dominic Artis (1) and Damyean Dotson (21) after Louisville's 77-69 win over Oregon in a regional semifinal Friday in Indianapolis. If things go according to Oregon's plans, Artis and Dotson will get the chance to know what it feels like to be in Smith's shoes. The Associated Press

And yet, even with Gordon going elsewhere, the future looks bright for the Oregon men's basketball program. Anchored by freshman guards Dominic Artis and Damyean Dotson, the Ducks finally have a foundation from which coach Dana Altman can build sustained success.

That's the goal, anyway.

Picked to finish seventh in the Pac-12 Conference, the Ducks once again surpassed outside expectations this season, winning the Pac-12 tournament championship and advancing to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament. Oregon's late-season surge ended with a 77-69 loss to No. 1 seed Louisville in the sweet 16 on Friday in Indianapolis.

"I'm very proud of the team," said Altman, who has a 73-37 record in three seasons as the UO coach. "Outstanding group of guys to work with. ... I really enjoyed working with this group. One of the most enjoyable years I've had working with a group of young men."

The Ducks finished with a 28-9 record, the program's most victories since 2007.

Gone are four seniors -- E.J. Singler, Arsalan Kazemi, Tony Woods and Carlos Emory -- who made up 57 percent of Oregon's scoring and 59 percent of the rebounding this season. In Singler, the Ducks not only lose their leading scorer but also the program's all-time winningest player, with 89 victories in his four seasons.

"It was an unbelievable experience," Singler said after playing in his first NCAA Tournament. "I'm just so happy and proud of my team (for) really fighting in the postseason. I'm going to remember these guys and I'm going to miss it."

The Ducks also lose their starting center in Woods, their electric sixth man in Emory and one of the nation's best rebounders in Kazemi. A one-year transfer from Rice, Kazemi proved to be arguably Oregon's most valuable player in his six months on campus.

"It has been great," Kazemi said. "This is the most fun I've ever had playing college basketball. ... It was a great feeling knowing that only 16 teams are out there that are still playing."

After losing out on a chance to clinch the regular-season Pac-12 crown in the final week of the regular season, the Ducks rebounded with three wins in three nights last month to win the Pac-12 tournament. They got a surprising No. 12 seed for the NCAA Tournament -- most bracket-watchers had them projected higher -- but only had to travel to San Jose, Calif., where they knocked off No. 5 Oklahoma State and No. 4 Saint Louis to advance to the regional semifinals.

"We went through some ups and downs and had to overcome some obstacles with some injures," said Altman, the Pac-12 coach of the year. "But those seniors kept them going. It was those seniors that really drove the team."

Going forward, the Ducks are hoping to make the NCAA Tournament an annual tradition.

"We definitely had a great season," said Artis, the freshman point guard. "We're just going to take it back for next year. We're going to use this as a learning experience and move forward."

Artis, despite missing five weeks with a stress fracture in his left foot, averaged 8.5 points, 3.2 assists and provided a steady, calming presence at the point. His backcourt partner, Dotson, peaked in March; in six postseason games, he led the Ducks with 16.0 points per game.

Along with Artis and Dotson, 6-foot-8 freshman Ben Carter projects as a starter next season, along with 6-11 center Waverly Austin. Elgin Cook, a 6-6 forward from Northwest Florida State College who is expected to sign with the Ducks later this month, projects to have an immediate impact, as could 6-7 prep recruit Jordan Bell.

The Ducks also signed 6-9 Brazilian Cristiano Felicio and Salem shooting guard A.J. Lapray last fall, and got a commitment this winter from North Idaho College shooting guard Jalil Abdul-Bassit.

Backup point guard Johnathan Loyd also returns after his breakthrough junior season, and he's excited about the possibilities next season.

"We're going to be back, I can promise you that," he said moments after the loss to Louisville. "We're coming back to this place."